Fana's Promoter: If Burns Wants It, Make a Better Offer

By Phil D. Jay

Former IBF super-featherweight champion Mzonke Fana and WBO champion Ricky Burns’ chances of meeting in a 130lb unification battle earlier this year were scuppered by Burn’s promoter Frank Warren, according to the South African’s promoter Branco Milenkovic.

Milenkovic has accused Warren of ignoring a doubled counter-offer that would have meant the two fighters could have met in unification fight for both belts, plus the coveted Ring Magazine belt that Burns has spoken on numerous times of his willingness and desire to fight for.

"Frank Warren has been going on about the unification on every available international website,” Milenkovic told sowetanlive.co.za.

“I got sick and tired of reading about it so I informed his Sports Network that if they are serious about this fight, they should contact me instead of running to the media.

"Frank made me an embarrassing offer for Fana to fight Burns in Scotland but I countered this by doubling his offer to bring Burns to South Africa.

"Frank never replied. The fight was not only going to be for the IBF and WBO but also for the prestigious Ring Magazine belt."

Fana, 37, has since been stripped of his IBF belt for inactivity and has appointed a new manager in Mava Malla, who he hopes will be able to get him reinstated as the champion or set up a bout with Burns for his title and the coveted Ring Magazine belt as the two fighters are one and two in the Ring rankings.